The angel's lips curved into a graceful smile.
Then she spoke.
Her voice rang out like celestial bells chiming in perfect harmony, yet beneath that divine melody was the tempered steel of a commander forged in countless wars. It wasn't merely heard; it swept through the room like a sacred hymn, vibrating softly in their bones.
"I've seen you, Jack," she said, her gaze unwavering, her presence absolute. "Your soul carries a storm of possibilities."
Jack's breath caught.
Thump... thump... thump!
His heart pounded in his chest like a war drum. The world around him faded, narrowed to just her. His voice trembled as he finally whispered, "W-Who are you…?"
Ava stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, warm, grounding, and reassuring.
"Everyone," she said softly, "allow me to introduce my best friend."
She turned to the radiant figure beside her.
"Her name is Lysara. Daughter of Archangel Seraphiel the Herald of Divine Order and Leader of the Angels."
Lysara chuckled, and the sound danced through the air like delicate wind chimes in a spring breeze. Tinkle-tinkle...
"And let you have all the fun guiding these four special ones alone? Never."
The name Lysara rolled through Jack's thoughts like distant thunder rumbling behind ancient mountains.
Rmmmmm...
She stepped across the threshold, and the very air seemed to shift, parting for her. Her wings folded behind her with the soft whisper of feathers brushing silk. Each step was silent... reverent... holy.
Emma and James instinctively moved aside, their breath catching in awe. Even the walls seemed to listen. The room felt transformed less like a home and more like a cathedral bathed in starlight.
Only Ava remained calm, smiling warmly.
"From childhood," she said, voice tinged with memory, "we grew up together. Learned together. Fought side by side. She's more than a friend, she's a sister."
Lysara dipped her head in a graceful nod, her golden eyes sweeping across the family like rays of morning sunlight.
"And Ava… she never moves without reason. When I learned she had descended to personally guide a Otherworlders family along the Ascendant Path…" She paused.
The silence deepened. Tick... tick... The air held its breath.
"…I had to see with my own eyes. What kind of family could move her heart so fiercely?"
Ava folded her arms with mock irritation and let out a sigh.
"You didn't have to descend like a divine ambush."
Lysara smiled again, her expression serene and mischievous.
"I'm a Greater Angel. Surprise is my nature."
A soft hush fell once more. The kind of silence that buzzed with meaning. Then
Ahem!
James cleared his throat, cutting through the stillness.
"Wait… you're not just visiting, are you?"
Lysara's gaze met his. Calm. Steady. She nodded slowly.
"I've taken on the role of temporary Principal at Jakartha Academy."
BOOM!
The words hit like a thunderclap in their minds.
"What?!" Jack's voice cracked, filled with disbelief. Thud! A chair jolted as someone shifted too fast.
"You're the new Principal?!"
Lysara tilted her head ever so slightly, a spark of amusement lighting her eyes.
"Only for a while. I want to watch closely. To understand why fate gathers around your family like storm clouds circling a sacred mountain."
Ava rolled her eyes, lips curling in a wry smile.
"She's dramatic. As always."
Heh heh... A soft laugh echoed between them, familiar, divine, and full of memories.
Lysara continued, her voice lowering like the hush before dawn, soft and reverent.
"You four… I sense something different about you. Not just potential but change. You may be the beginning of something far greater than you can even imagine."
WHOOSH...
A faint breeze stirred as if the air itself responded to her words.
Sofia, who had been staring with wide eyes and parted lips, finally found her voice.
"I-Is it true… that angels like you can see into destinies?"
Lysara let out a gentle laugh.like light cascading over still water.
Tinkle...
"Not fully," she said. "We don't see every thread. But I can feel the rhythm of fate… and yours," she paused, golden eyes glowing ever so slightly, "it's not ordinary."
Emma's eyes softened. Her smile was gentle, maternal.
"We're just trying to live and grow... as a family."
Lysara's gaze lingered on her for a long, thoughtful beat. Then she nodded, her voice full of quiet power.
"And that," she said, "is exactly what makes you different."
Thud...
Her wings shifted gently behind her.
"Most seek power… glory… revenge. But you" she gestured lightly, "you grow together. That harmony… is rare."
A deep stillness settled over them again.
Silence.
But not empty.
It was warm. Peaceful. Like the last note of a song still echoing in the soul.
Lysara sat with them at the dinner table. Though she didn't eat, her presence was no less felt. She listened attentively as Jack animatedly recounted how he crafted his first Minor Healing Tonic, his words bubbling with joy and quiet pride. He spoke of his professors Elira Moonshade, master of Alchemy, and Borin Stonebeard, the unshakable Blacksmith, his admiration for their teachings glowing in every word.
Even Lysara's celestial eyes shimmered with approval.
James and Emma shared their latest beast-hunting quest, describing the fierce battles and the two new companions who had joined them and completed the mission side by side. Clink. The sound of utensils and soft laughter wove through the warm atmosphere as they spoke. Lysara listened closely, nodding at every detail, her attention unwavering.
Ava chimed in now and then with witty remarks, occasionally teasing Jack. Tch. Jack groaned every time she brought up his potion mishap. Meanwhile, Sofia couldn't help but keep glancing at the angel, eyes wide with curiosity and wonder.
Finally, curiosity won over.
"How did you and Ava become friends?" Sofia asked, her voice soft but eager.
Lysara turned to Ava with a nostalgic smile. "It was long ago. We trained together as young initiates in the Heavenly Palace. She was bold, sharp-tongued, and always too curious for her own good. At first, we clashed like fire and ice… but fate has its own plans."
Her smile deepened, eyes distant with memory. "What started as rivalry became camaraderie. We faced death, darkness, and despair together. We protected worlds. We stood against chaos. And through it all… we endured."
"She exaggerates," Ava said dryly, sipping her tea. Sip. "I was the reasonable one."
Lysara raised an eyebrow, amused. "Says the girl who once tried to summon a storm elemental during a sparring match."
THUD!
Jack nearly dropped his fork.
"You did what?!"
"Long story," Ava muttered, though a smirk tugged at her lips.
Lysara's laughter rang out.warm, real, almost human. "There are few I would entrust with my life. Ava is one of them. So when I learned she descended to guide your family, I knew something monumental was about to unfold. She bears the Blessing of Intuition strong enough to sense the threads of fate before they unravel."
James leaned back, thoughtful. "Still feels strange… being in the presence of divine beings."
"You'll get used to it," Ava said with a grin, giving him a playful nudge.
Tap.
Lysara rose gracefully from her seat. "I won't stay long tonight. I just came to see... and now I understand. Tomorrow, we meet again at Jakartha Academy."
She turned to Ava with a soft nod. "You made a good choice."
Ava's smile held quiet pride. "I always do."
With one last glance at the family, Lysara stepped out into the night.
The moonlight kissed her golden hair as her wings unfurled brilliant, feathered arcs of divine light.
WHOOSH…
With a gentle rush of wind and grace, she soared upward ascending through the night like a falling star in reverse, vanishing into the starlit heavens.
Jack stood at the doorway, eyes wide with awe, lips parted.
Ava stepped beside him.
"Told you I had an interesting friend."
Jack exhaled slowly, a small, stunned smile curling onto his face. "Yeah… interesting is an understatement."
And just like that, another chapter in the strange new life of the four chosen had ended…
But destiny was only beginning to unfold its wings.
---------
To Be Continued…!!